Stuff of Legendes

by Michele MacDonald 
If his name is any indication of his talent, a new Japanese superstar may have taken his first winning steps at Kyoto racecourse on Feb. 15. 

Legende (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a 3-year-old full-brother to two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Gentildonna (Jpn), entered the starting gate as the even-money favorite in a field of 14 maidens going 1800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) on turf. After breaking without incident, he rated kindly in second under jockey Keita Tosaki while the filly Kurseong (Jpn) (Empire Maker) set the pace for much of the trip. 

When Tosaki rounded the far turn on Legende, he asked the colt for more and his mount bounded quickly to the lead. Tosaki tapped his flank twice in the stretch and Legende proved clearly best, defeating Kurseong easily by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.4 on a course rated firm, and he galloped out with his ears pricked. Fillies Gold Glory (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) and Juwelen (Jpn) (Deep Impact) finished third and fourth. (video). 

“He did not break quickly, but we could manage to take a good position. He has a long stride, which is similar to his great sister, and he has good elasticity,” Tosaki said after the race. “He has a bright future.” 

Tosaki rode Gentildonna in her career finale, a victory in the championship G1 Arima Kinen, and kissed her nose at her subsequent retirement ceremony, adding later that he already is looking forward to riding her future offspring. The Japan Racing Association gave Tosaki, in only his second season as a JRA jockey, its award for best rider of 2014 based on races won. 

Legende was bred by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm out of G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Donna Blini (GB) (Bertolini), and the colt was purchased privately from the farm for an undisclosed price by owner Masamichi Hayashi, who buys horses internationally and appears to have global aspirations. Hayashi sent his stakes winner Bande (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), who was third in the 2013 G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger), to compete in last year's G1 Caulfield Cup in Australia, but the horse was scratched due to a swollen tendon. 

Legende is trained by Gentildonna's conditioner, Sei Ishizaka, who took the Sunday Racing champion to Dubai twice. In 2013, Gentildonna finished second to Ballydoyle's St Nicholas Abbey (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, but she returned to Meydan last year to capture the Sheema trophy while defeating Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}) in a top field also including GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner Magician (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 

Ishizaka has not yet set a goal for the next start for Legende, who resembles Gentildonna with his bay color and is similarly marked with a star. Japan's most prestigious race for 3-year-olds, the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) will be run on May 31 at Tokyo racecourse. 

Northern Farm has bred another younger full-sibling to Gentildonna, a filly born in January 2014. Another full-sister, the now seven-year-old Donau Blue, won a pair of Group 3 races in 2012 and placed twice at the Group 1 level while also carrying the silks of Sunday Racing, which is affiliated with Northern Farm. 

Gentildonna is set to be bred to former leading Japanese sire King Kamehameha (Jpn) (Kingmambo) this season.